Thomas e



No. 606,674. Patented July 5, |898.

T. E. LEwKls.)

AGETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

(Applicatio med sept. 24, 1891.) (No Modeh) TH: cams PETERS ca, Puoro-Lwna. WASHINGTON, l;A c.

tical section through the gasometer.

UNiTnD STATES PATENT rtree,

THOMAS E. LEWIS, IOF DOUGHERTY, INDIAN TERRITORY.

ACETYLEN E-G'As 'c ENERATOR.

sPEcIrKIcA'rIoN forming part of Letters Patent No. 606,674, dated July 5, 1898;:

Application flied september 24, 18ans-.rin No. 652,913. Kuo'mdei.)

To all whom, t ,may concern:

Be it knownthat I, THOMAS EQLEWIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dougherty, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in'Gas-Generators, of which the following is aspecilication, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to gas-generators, and more particularly to generators intended foruse in the production of gas within a gasometer by the use of calcium carbid or other suitable gas-producing material.

The invention has for its object to provide a structure bymeans of which the basket carrying the gas-producing material will be lowered into contact with the liquid contained in the' base of the generator as the gas held within the gasometer is consumed, and also to provide an automatic feeding of the liquid to the lower portion of the generator when the same becomes exhausted.

vIt has fora further 'object to improve the several features of construction, as more particularly hereinafter pointed out, so that the apparatus will be adapted for the rapid and automatic production of illuminating-gas.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed outin the appended claims. v A

In the drawings, Figure l is a central verr Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, and Fig. 3 is a pr-qrspectiveofV the apparatus. Like letters of'refe'rence indicate like parts throughout'the severaligures of the drawings.Y

' The letter A designates a gasometer constructed of any desired material and provided at its 'lower portion withl a generating-chamber A' and atits upperportion with an annular water-chamber A. This water-chamber is formed by means of a tubular central eX- tension A3, extending upward from the bottom wall A4, which connects the former with the exterior wall. yThe'lower portion of the gasometer is provided with a manhole ai, by means ofi'which'entrance may be had to the generating-chamber for the purpose of recharging or cleaning the same and removing l refuse therefrom. This manhole is closed by any suitable construction of cap or cover- -for instance, a'disk a', provided with a rubber packing c2 and held in position by means of a locking-bail a3, which engages a iiange a.4"11pon the outer edge of the manhole, and

thereby constitutes a bayonet-joint securing means, by which the cap can be readily detached `when desired for the purposes dcscribed. Beneath the manhole c there is also provided a iiushing or outlet valve a5, operated by veither screw or lever, by means of which the water contained in the generatingchamber may be removed and at the same time a large quantity of the refuse material washed out from the 4generating-chamber. The generating-chamber is-also'provided with an air-cock a6 and at its lower portion with a water-gage a7, having thereon a draw-off cock a8 to .lower the water-level when the same becomestoo high.

` The upper portionof the gasometer' is proi vided with an outwardly-dared edge A5,which ypresents'a space through which water may be introduced into the water-chamber A2. Above this flared edge there is vsupported a guide-ring AG by means of connecting-braces A7. Guide-'rods A8 also extendupfwardfrom the gasometer.

Within the water-chamber of the gasometer there is located a removable inverted cover or vided with a closed top B and 'downwardlyextending walls B2," provided with guides b',

saidwalls forming an open-lower endadaptf ed to be immersed in the water'contained in the water-chamber of the gasometer.

The upper portion of this cover B'lis provided with a suitable air-cock b, by means "of which the air may be removed therefrom'when the lower end of the cover is introduced into the'water,

dome vB, which is cylindrical i-u'form and pro- IOO generating liquid when the gas has been used from the movable cover or dome and removed from the generating liquid when sufficient gas has been accumulated beneath the cover to raise the same. 'l'he gas which is generated in the chamber A and passes to the upper portion of the coveror dome B is removed for use by means of an outlet-pipe D, which is located adjacent to the tubular-extension A3 and passes downward through the body of water contained in the water chamber or seal and outward to a controlling-cock D, as illustrated. For the purpose of removing water from the water chamber orseal into the generating-chamber when desired a pipe E is provided with a controlling-cock E', and the opposite ends of this pipe communicate, respectively, with the chamber A2 and the generating-chamber A. lly t-his means sufficient water maybe allowed to pass within the generati11g-chamber to cause the proper chemical reaction for the produetionof the gas. Then it is desired to open the generating` portion of the gasometer while a body of gas is contained in the upper portion of the cover or dome, the cover maybe held in its raised position by means of a wedge-block E2, introduced between the guide-ring Aj and the side wall B2 of the cover or dome.

For the purpose of automatically increasing the amount of water or liquid in the generating-chamber when the removable cover or dome reaches the limit of its downward movement I have provided a lfeed-valve G, carried by a stationary part of the gasometer-for instance, upon the tubular extension A3. This valve is pivoted to an upwardlyextending feed passage G and is provided with a finger g, adapted to engage a stop g', carried bythe removable cover or dome. At opposite sides of this stop g' guide-flanges G2 are provided, between which the finger g of the feed-valve travels, so as to prevent the position of the stop from becoming changed in its relation to the linger of the valve. It will be observed that as the cover or dome descends in its movement the stop g' will depress the finger g and thus raise the valve G, allowing the water in the upper portion ofthe water seal or chamber to pass downward through the passage G into the generatingchamber. As soon as the gas has been generated to raise the deine the stop will be removed froni contact with the valve G and the same will be returned by gravity to its position of closure. It is obvious that the water may be introduced into the chamber A2 by any suitable means-for instance, by means of a service pipe or hose leading into the upper portion of the chamber.

The operation of the parts is as follows: The carbid or gas-producing material is introduced into the basket C and the same passed into the generating-chamber of the gasometer, while the flange of the cylindrical cover passes into the body of water contained within the water seal. The downward movement of the cover will open the feed-valve G and allow sufficient water to pass within the generating-ebamber to generate a quantity of the gas, which will then pass upward into the upper portion of the dome and iind its outlet through the pipe I). This pipe leads through a body of cool or cold water, so that the gas, which is in a heated state after its generation, will be cooled before it passes from the gasometer. Then the cover is first introduced, the air-cock b is open, so that the air contained therein may pass out.

In the further operation of the device it will be observed that the water-feed valve will be actuated or opened whenever the dome or cover and the carbid-receptaele carried thereby descends downward, and as soon as sufficient gas has accumulated within the dome the same is raised, so that the valve will be closed and the carbid-receptacle lifted above the water in the generating-chainber.

As previously stated, whenever it is desired to clean the generating-chamber the cover or dome maybe supported in its raised position by means of the wedge-block E2 an d the manhole-cover removed, so that access can be had to the generating-chamber. If it be found desirable in starting the machine, the water for use in the generating-eliamber maybe introduced by mea-ns of the pipe E and cock E.

Any desired liquid may be used in Connection with the chemicals used for the production of gas; but I prefer the use of salt water in the water seal and generating-ehamber, as it has been found that water having in solution a percentage of sodium ehlorid will not readily freeze, so that with this liquid there is ne danger of the parts becoming inoperative during cold weather.

I have described with partieularity the details of construction of the several parts; but it is obvious that changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of this invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having described my invention and set forth its merits, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a gas-generator, the combination with a generating-chamber at the lower portion thereof, of a central tubular extension connected at its lower end with the walls of said generator so as to constitute a water-chamber, a cover or dome having its lower portion located in said \\"atei'-ehai1ibei, and a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, substantially as specified.

2. Ina gas-generator, the combination with a generating-chamber at the lower portion thereof, of a central tubular extension connected at its lower end with the walls of said generator so as to constitute a water-chamber, a cover or dome having its lower portion located in said water-chamber, a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, and a gas-outlet pipe extending from the upper portion of said dome through said water-chainber, substantially as specified.

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3. In a gas-generator, the combination with -a generating-chamberv at the lower portion d thereof, of a central tubular extension connected at its lower end with the walls of said generator so as to constitute a water-chamber, a cover or dome having its lower portion located in said water-chamber, a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, a guidering supported from said generator and surrounding said dome,and means engaging said guide-ring and dome to hold the latter in its relation to the former, substantially as specified.

5. In a gas-generator, the combination with a generating-chamber at the lower portion thereof, of a cover or dome' located in said chamber, a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, a water-chamber into which the lower end of said cover extends, an inletpipe provided with a cock and communicating with said water and generating chambers, and an outlet-cock at the lower portion of said generating-chamber, substantially as specified.

6. In a gas-generator, the combination with a generating-chamber at the lower portion thereof, of a central tubular extension connected at its lower end with the walls of said generator so as to constitute a water-chamber, a cover or dome'having its lower portion located in said water-chamber, a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, 'a manhole-cover provided with a packing, and a -bail pivoted to said cover to engage a flange upon the edge of a manhole, substantially as specified.'

7. In a gas-generator, the combination with a generating-chamber at the lower portion thereof, of a central tubular extension connected at its lower end with the walls of said generator so .as to constitute a water-chamber, a cover or dome having its lower portion located in said water-chamber, a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, a feedvalve located on said tubular extension, and means for operating said valve carried by said cover or dome, substantially as specified.

8.v In a gas-generator, the combination with a generating-chamber at the lower portion thereof, of a central tubular extension connected at its lower end with the walls of said generator so as to constitute a water-cham-v ber, a cover or dome having its lower portion located in said water-chamber, a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, a pivoted feed-Valve located on said tubularv extension and provided with a finger, and a stop carried by said cover or dome and adapted to "engage said finger in the downward movement of the cover, substantially as specified.

9. Ina gas-generator, the combination with a generating-chamber at the lower portion thereof, of a central tubular extension connected at its lower end with the walls of said generator so as to constitute a water-chamber, a cover or dome having its lower portion located in said water-chamber, a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, a feedvalve carried by said tubular extension, a finger extending outwardly from said valve, a stop carried upon the cover or dome to engage said finger, and parallel guide-Hanges carried by the cover upon opposite sides of said finger, substantially as specified.

i lO. Ina gas-generator,the combination with a generating-chamber at` the lower portion thereof, of a central tubular extension connected at its lower end with the ,walls of said generator so as to constitute a water-chamber, a cover or dome h'aving its'lowerportion located in said water-chamber, a receptacle suspended from said cover or dome, a gasoutlet pipe extending from the upper portion of said cover or dome downward through the water-chamber, an inlet-feed valve pivotally mounted upon said tubular extension, and a stop carried by the cover or dome to engage said valve, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS E. Lnwis.

Vitnesses:

J. H. NEEL, J. B. RANDLE.

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